Dr.Olivinho Gomes Passed Away:

Dr.Olivinho Gomes was a Konkani scholar and former Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Goa University.

Dr Olivinho Gomes passed away, and it was sad to get this news from Valmiki Faleiro in Margao. When talking to my classmate Dr. Rafael Fernandes at the Goa University, he also mentioned the passing away of this scholar.
Dr Gomes was a prolific author and a deep supporter of the Konkani
language. Writers like Valmiki have narrated to me how his understanding and love for the language had influenced them decades ago.
Olivinho was a senior Customs official, before he decided to make the shift to the academic field. I first encountered him as a contributor to the Herald with his articles, mostly on Konkani and related themes, in the 1980s. Me being curious to understand Goa, and him always having some story to narrate, we would have longish chats when we met up at conferences, or chatted away while some Seminar was in progress.
Dr. Gomes also wrote a rather detailed book on Chandor, his village (it his in-laws’ vilage) called Village Goa. It is sad to lose a scholar so early, specially since Dr. Gomes was very active in writing and would invariably have a new book he had published whenever one met him after a three or six month gap!
The funeral is tomorrow (Friday, July 31, 2009) at 4.30 pm at the
Taleigao church.

3 Respostas to “Dr.Olivinho Gomes Passed Away:”

At a condolence meeting at Vasco Goan Poets’ Forum deeply mourned the death of Konkani poet and a noted writer, Dr. Olivinho Gomes, the former Vice Chancellor of Goa University.

Mr. Yusuf A. Sheikh, the president of the Forum expressed shock at the sudden passing away of Prof. Gomes who, he said, was a gigantic personality in development of Konkani language. He was a self made man of extraordinary qualities and a great scholar who kept himself involved in pursuit of knowledge. He was rare amongst Goans who could enter into Indian Revenue Service. With inflinching interest he dedicated his time to do spectacular research on Konkani language and literature. We have lost a towering Konkani personality, Mr. Sheikh added.

Mr. Pandharinath Damodar Lotlikar described Prof. Gomes as a distinguished Goan who made us proud by occupying the post of Vice Chancellor of Goa University. His contribution to translation of Indian classics and his dedication to Konkani language and education at the University level were laudable, he said.

Mr. Ashok Chodankar while condoling the death of Dr. Gomes described him as a great patriot who had indepth knowledge of Indian history and Indian culture. He strongly believed in Unity in Diversity and also upheld morale of Konkani writers in Roman script.

Mr. Clerance Furtado described Dr. Gomes as a Konkani writer of exceptionally high standard. As such he was on the Executive Board of National Sahitya Akademi representing Konkani language, he said.

Mr. Anil Kamat Shankhwalkar said that the literary work of Dr. Olivinho Gomes has both local and National flavour and is a great source of inspiration to upcoming Goan writers. Mr. Gopinath Shah, Mr. Andre Fernandes, Mr. Stanley Vaz and others paid tribute to the departed soul and expressed heartfelt condolence.

At a condolence meeting at Vasco Goan Poets’ Forum deeply mourned the death of Konkani poet and a noted writer, Dr. Olivinho Gomes, the former Vice Chancellor of Goa University.

Mr. Yusuf A. Sheikh, the president of the Forum expressed shock at the sudden passing away of Prof. Gomes who, he said, was a gigantic personality in development of Konkani language. He was a self made man of extraordinary qualities and a great scholar who kept himself involved in pursuit of knowledge. He was rare amongst Goans who could enter into Indian Revenue Service. With inflinching interest he dedicated his time to do spectacular research on Konkani language and literature. We have lost a towering Konkani personality, Mr. Sheikh added.

Mr. Pandharinath Damodar Lotlikar described Prof. Gomes as a distinguished Goan who made us proud by occupying the post of Vice Chancellor of Goa University. His contribution to translation of Indian classics and his dedication to Konkani language and education at the University level were laudable, he said.

Mr. Ashok Chodankar while condoling the death of Dr. Gomes described him as a great patriot who had indepth knowledge of Indian history and Indian culture. He strongly believed in Unity in Diversity and also upheld morale of Konkani writers in Roman script.

Mr. Clerance Furtado described Dr. Gomes as a Konkani writer of exceptionally high standard. As such he was on the Executive Board of National Sahitya Akademi representing Konkani language, he said.

Mr. Anil Kamat Shankhwalkar said that the literary work of Dr. Olivinho Gomes has both local and National flavour and is a great source of inspiration to upcoming Goan writers. Mr. Gopinath Shah, Mr. Andre Fernandes, Mr. Stanley Vaz and others paid tribute to the departed soul and expressed heartfelt condolence.